By David Hennessy, Clinical Psychologist
When life feels unpredictable, it can help to pause and intentionally define a few basics of what truly matters. For many people, these often fall into areas such as:
Health
Connection
Security
Leisure
Fun
Relaxation
Work
Hobbies
Creativity
When we take the time to clarify what is important to us in these areas, we start to build a map that can guide us. Rather than leaving things to chance or mood, we can create a path that gives direction and meaning.
The next step is to formulate these values into actions. For example:
If health matters, that might become “go for a 30-minute walk three times a week.”
If connection matters, that might become “call a friend or family member once a week.”
If creativity matters, that might become “set aside one evening for painting or writing.”
These actions are small, practical, and specific. They turn values into behaviours that can actually shape daily life.
Once you have formulated actions, schedule them into your week. Place them in your calendar or diary just as you would a meeting or appointment. This step makes the action more concrete and less dependent on fleeting motivation.
A key element here is stick-to-itiveness: the ability to persist, even when thoughts or emotions fluctuate. Feelings and motivation will always rise and fall, but values-consistent actions can act as anchors.
Sticking to this structure over and above the ebb and flow of how you think or feel is where steadiness and change take shape. Over time, this builds resilience and trust in your own ability to live in alignment with what matters most.